Apart from one game in 2017, the Blues haven’t beaten a Queensland team at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane in nine years - and like they have done on so many occasions before, the Maroons pulled ahead early.

Billy Slater has led Queensland to a stunning 18-12 win over New South Wales in Game III of the State of Origin tonight in his final game for his state. Picture: AAP. (AAP)

Winger Valentine Holmes pulled off a stunning intercept to cut off a NSW pass before running 90 metres to try within 10 minutes.

With a penalty goal and more than 60 percent of the ball possession, there was nothing else to say about the first half other than that Queensland dominated the Blues for a solid half-hour.

But then the run-of-play took a sudden change and things got interesting.

Winger Valentine Holmes was the first to cross the try-line after an intercept and a 90-metre sprint put the Maroons ahead. Picture: AAP. (AAP)Despite a first half of Queensland dominance, the Blues weren't out of the game though, with two late tries to send them into half-time in front. Picture: Getty. (Getty)James Tedesco crossed the try-line for NSW with seconds on the clock in the first half. Picture: AAP. (Getty)

Seemingly out of desperation, NSW’s Tom Trbojevic leaped into the middle of a Maroons pass in the 36 minute to make the second significant intercept of the game – scoring the Blues’ first try after a full-field sprint.

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From there, with the score at 8-6 to Queensland, the game intensified, the tackles were a little rougher and not even a Sin Bin decision handed to James Maloney could stop NSW running a little stronger.

Three minutes later, James Tedesco scored another try and the Blues were, somehow, in the lead going into half-time.

From there, the game got more intense and NSW' James Maloney was Sin Binned early in the second half. Picture: AAP. (AAP)James Roberts was also left bloodied and bruised during the game as the tackles strengthened. Picture: Getty. (AAP)

Both teams came off the field saying they needed to do a little more to seal the win and both half-time coach talks looked fiery and animated.

That passion saw Maroons youngsters Valentine Holmes, Cameron Munster and Daly Cherry-Evans – who was back on the State of Origin field for the first time since 2015 – begin to fire up.

One aerobatic try from Holmes was followed by some fancy footwork from Munster that put Cherry-Evans across the line had Queensland winning 18-12 with just minutes left on the clock.

In the end , it was Queensland that would run home with the victory at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane after another try from Valentine Holmes and then from Daly Cherry-Evans sealed the final score. Picture: Getty. (AAP)The win adds to the State of Origin story that has been since 2009, with the Maroons near-unbeatable in front of a hometown crowd. Picture: AAP. (Getty)

Fight as they did, the Blues simply couldn’t hit back in front of the thousands of Maroons fans sitting in the Suncorp stands and then the final whistle was blown and it was all over.

The win means that, of 24 appearances at Suncorp Stadium, Queensland have now won 16 against NSW in a consistent show of dominance north-of-the-border.

Almost fittingly, at the final moment the skies opened above the stadium and the rain began to pour.

The change in weather came as Slater was given the Wally Lewis Medal for Man of the Match and NSW Captain Boyd Cordner lifted the State of Origin shield for the first time since 2014.

Whether or not that marks a metaphor for the changing of the State of Origin guard from experienced veterans to talented newcomers – the answer to that will have to wait until next year.